The struggle is real. I’ve been saying this phrase during my cold plunge sessions for what feels like forever, but this week it carries deeper meaning. As I forced myself into the frigid water despite every instinct telling me not to, I reflected on how our hardest moments often become unexpected catalysts for growth and blessing.
Recently, I’ve been watching a loved one navigate a difficult situation—one that’s unfair, scary, and frankly dangerous. It mirrors something I went through years ago, which makes it even more painful to witness. The hardest part? Recognizing there’s little I can do beyond listening, coaching when invited, showing love, and praying.
Sometimes our most important role isn’t to rescue others from their struggles but to simply walk alongside them.
When Helping Hurts
Even when we can bail someone out of their difficulties, we often shouldn’t. This isn’t callousness—it’s wisdom. I once read about butterflies and how the struggle to break free from their cocoons is essential. If we “help” by breaking open the cocoon, we actually damage the butterfly, potentially fatally. The struggle itself builds the strength needed for survival.
This principle applies broadly in life:
- The resistance of weights builds muscle
- Facing challenges develops resilience
- Working through problems enhances problem-solving skills
Growth rarely happens in comfort zones. The path to strength runs directly through difficulty.
Finding Gratitude Within the Storm
I’m not suggesting we need to be grateful for our struggles—that’s an unrealistic expectation. But we can find moments of gratitude within them. The blessing might come from connecting with others who’ve walked similar paths or experiencing the profound impact of being cared for when you’re at your lowest point.
We don’t have to be grateful for the struggles, but we can find gratitude in the middle of them.
This reminds me of my yellow glasses—the ones I’m wearing as I write this. During my thirteen winters in Cleveland, Ohio, the persistent cloudiness wore me down mentally. So I got prescription glasses with yellow lenses that made even the grayest days look sunny. Those glasses became both a reminder of struggle and a tool for finding brightness in darkness.
Now living in Charlotte with its frequent Carolina blue skies, I appreciate sunshine in ways I never could have without those cloudy years. The contrast makes the good days sweeter.
Strength Through Resistance
My cold plunge practice embodies this principle perfectly. Each time I lower myself into that icy water, everything in me resists. It’s uncomfortable. It’s shocking. My body screams to get out.
But I’ve learned that:
- The initial shock passes
- My breathing eventually steadies
- The discomfort teaches me mental control
- The practice builds both physical and psychological resilience
The temporary pain yields lasting benefits I couldn’t gain any other way.
This is the paradox of growth: what challenges us most often changes us for the better.
When you’re in the middle of your own struggle—whether it’s a relationship breakdown, career setback, health challenge, or any other difficulty—remember that the struggle itself may be preparing you for something important. The resistance you feel might be building exactly the strength you’ll need tomorrow.
While I can’t promise that every hardship leads to an obvious blessing, I’ve found that looking for the potential growth within our struggles gives us purpose in pain. And sometimes, that perspective itself becomes the first blessing.
The struggle is real. But so are the unexpected gifts it can bring.
